AIBU to think a 10k in two months is unrealistic?

That’s actually a really good idea.

OP is getting a hard time on here but posters are overlooking the fact that this will likely cause her more work/stress.
Even though I think she should still be supportive.

But at least this way he’s still doing the club runs at least.

Many other have said it, should be fine, do a bit of running over the next couple of months to get into it.

Just as important, get him to eat well and thoughtfully, if he could drop a couple of kilos before the event that would help and basically don't over do it. Vital to arrive at the start line injury free.

10k isn’t far, I did my first after a couple of smaller runs years ago. He can walk it and still not be last so with a few half hour training jogs he’ll be fine. Take the kids on their bikes

Of course he can do a 10k. As others have said he doesn't have to run the whole thing but 8 weeks will give him plenty of time to train to run the most part of it. You sound like you just don't want him to do it for selfish reasons of your own.

I did a 10k with no training 7 months after having a baby and still carrying a fair amount of extra weight. It was hard but I done it. I think hel be fine with the training time he has.

Totally achievable. I’m not a runner at all, hate running actually. But I did a 10k charity race a few years ago. I did Couch to 5k over the space of about two months. Never ran more than 6k in training…….. but just pushed through and jogged/walked the 10k on the day. Did it in 1hr15. Most people could jog/walk for 1hr15 mins without training if they really had to. I think it would be a great thing to do with his friends, please be supportive if he wants to give it a go.

I can completely see where you are coming from here- you’re approaching it from a stance of concern for him, but also impact on you with a busy life and kids. It’s overwhelming to think about adding another thing to the ‘to do’ list (speaking as someone who’s husband decided to fulfil a lifelong ambition of running a marathon while we had a newborn, I get it 🫠🫠).
However it sounds like there could be so much to gain here. He is recently bereaved, and having a purpose and getting some exercise will probably be hugely helpful for his mental health. Having an active lifestyle is so important, and that can be lost in having kids- having a short term goal in mind might help with setting patterns for being more active. For us, it has made us both more aware of the importance of exercise, and he has been super respectful about me also having time to work out- make sure you have this balance too.
I would try and be as supportive of this as you can- it sounds like it’s something he really wants to do and is likely to be important for his grieving.

I’m actually with you on this one OP. You are thinking practically and logically about how and when he will train. You haven’t said you won’t let him, only that you can’t see how it will fit in. It’s common for people to sign up for things like this or a new course without thinking how it might actually work. When life seems so jam packed and then a partner throws something like this at us, it somehow makes it feel like our problem to fix sometimes. I hope he finds the time though and can complete it, do let us know. I think it would be a great achievement for him.

You mention your kids clubs. If they are clubs where kids can be dropped off and picked up then that’s the time for training. Both my husband and I are runners and we both do this, we run from wherever the club is from (with head torches if dark). It makes good use of time.

sounds a bit ambitious but just let him crack on.

It’s doable, but do his friends expect that he’ll match their pace? Because that isn’t realistic.

It does seem silly when he is currently so busy but I would just be supportive and let him get on with it.

He obviously feels the need to put his grief and energy to good use and this is a healthy way to do it.

I would not say anything negative and purely be supportive.

Running 10k if you’re not used to it is challenging but walking it should be pretty easy.
So worst comes to worse and he’s not as fit as he could be, he could run most of the way and walk the rest.

I would be trying to pick up extra parenting responsibilities where I can, so that his evenings are free to train and his weekends to train and sort his mums out.

Obviously he doesn’t get to not parent but considering he is grieving, then I’d take on the extra load for him if it was me.

I’m really surprised by people’s capabilities on this thread. When I first got back into running about 5 years ago I struggled to run 500m without my chest feeling like it was going to burst open. I was seriously unfit and hadn’t exercised (other than walking) for years. I did the couch to 5k which takes 9 weeks and by the 7th week I’d say I was able to run the 5k without stopping which was amazing. It took me months to build up to 10k, I started off by stretching one run a week to 6k, then to 7 and so on till I reached 10.

Now I’ve been running for half a decade at least twice a week but usually 3-4 times and run half marathons occasionally but I can’t do a sub hour 10k. I’d say I’m ultra fit now and body fat percentage is 21%, maybe I’m just a slow coach but I don’t think so.

YABVU OP.

Eight weeks is enough time to get from couch to 10k. He won't be quick, but he will get round.

You sound completely unsupportive. You have effectively decided he has, or should have, no free time at all, to pursue a hobby, to do exercise, to do anything you don't want him to.

You'll probably be back in a few months to complain your husband is fat, unfit and boring. He can't win.

YANBU, it sounds like he's got far too much going on to take on this extra project. And I suppose you'll have to do the lion's share of the domestic/ parenting/ admin while he trains .... and his SILs will have to pick up the slack on his mother's home.

This weekend there were a number of runs taking place in my city. A friend did the 5k with only 4 weeks training and probably had a similar level of fitness to your DH. Someone else got an amazing time in the half marathon despite only starting to run 3 months ago so I’d say it’s definitely achievable.

It’s only 10k, he can run it very slowly or walk most of it if he has to. 2 months is enough time to get a bit of training in, he just has to make the time!

I think using the App Runna and an 8 week training programme to 10k is doable.
3 runs a week until Race Day

If it helps, for the race my friends who supported as medics at, they said they start getting the first runners back in less than 30 minutes. So I think some short runs will absolutely be helpful. I trained for a 5k swim (about 2 hours of swimming) in 3 months with 2 short swims and one longer one where I built the distance up.

I think you just have to let him decide to get on with it and if it falls by the wayside then shrug internally and say nothing.

I understand why you’re hesitant about it op- finding time for anything when you have young children and jobs is harder than many people are acknowledging here.

Given you’re heading into winter, maybe a cheap foldable treadmill might make training more feasible? I have one for £150 from Amazon and use it whilst my youngest naps. It’s helping me get back into running and can be done when it’s cold or dark outside.

It’s not about the race, it’s about not having time to do a relationship fully and meet everyone’s needs (including his own) but finding time to take on a new commitment. The training for a race is almost a red herring, imo

Do you work OP and what hours?

It's 8 - 10 weeks. I'm sure things can be tweaked to make time for training. Just imagine a role reversal and how you would feel if he would not support you.

How old are your children. If they are sporty maybe they would like to train with him too as it sounds like he is probably not to worried about speed.

I think you’re right OP that going from no exercise at all to running a 10K in less than 8 weeks is unrealistic for most people. The Nike Run Club programme that someone mentioned upthread has a 5k run in the first week, and without any basic fitness or running experience that would be quite a tough starting point for a lot of people. But as everyone says he doesn’t need to run it, he can still take part even if a lot of it is walking. It’s a pain for family life but short lived and presumably means a lot to him. I think you have to grin and bear it, go cheer him on with the kids.